Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-06-18
AN OPERATIC REHEARSAL.
People of the Stage as Seen without Aid
from the Footlights.
Especial Correspondence


Especial Correspondence
NEW YORK, June TO-
The rehearsal Of an opera is scene far re-
moved from the ideal The every day color
ing of life is there spread on thick, The eyes
of the stage struck girl would protrude so far
they never could go back to their old position
If she saw it. And would it not be a blessing
to her and her kin il she could see it?
Somewhere over a music store, in the third
or fourth story, up dark and dirty stairs, is
the location selected. Reasons for the same
will occur to the practical mind. Big, barren
and bare is the room; dusty and dirty, too
A torn ceiling and carpetess floors distin-
guish it. piano is there to be sure, a blase.
world weary instrument that turns I'D its
nose and laughs in its sleeve at the brightest
of the stars who MARBLE in its presence. Has
1t not seen them rise, shine and fade into
oblivion again and agains And does it not
know in its rafting heart that all is vanity?
There is but little furniture in the room
and what is there is broken. Chairs and
benches with unreliable legs stand ready to
bring the most aspiring singer down. The
hour is II a. m. Members of the chorus drop in
one by one-men with matty hair, like badly
cured fur and shabby clothes. Stage people
of the middle and lowly ranks have but a
limited everyday wardrobe usually. Having
no everyday life to speak of, they neither
need them nor care for them. All are anx-
iOus for the season to begin. Rest is fine
thing when you can afford it, but curse
when your pocket is empty and your mind
much bothered over the emptiness The stage
people generally hate the season of idleness
"Snnp engagements" are hoped for during the
summer
The foreign element abounds. One struts
magnificently and carries his eyeglasses with
an air. Elderly chaps in short coats cut
around with ungilded youths, and they and
everybody else have forgotten their years,
since dignity has also been forgotten. The
girls come with fancy music rolls, baskets,
bags, sachels and with scraps all rolled up in
unsightly bundles. They chat: they drum on
the piano; they hum tunes. The mighty stars
keep to themselves Perhaps friend or two
drops in and chats with them-a Journalist
or musical chum. The tenor creates some
thing of the same interest he does behind the
footliGhts. Visitors remark his youthful
face and stout body, and have theories in
regard to the same. The contralto meets
with much respect. The soprano and her
second" are, of course, held in high outward
estimation. 1t Is her company, and kow-
towing is quite in place. The basso Is tall.
His voice is surprise to those who have
heard him. 1t seems to come from tremen-
dous cavern, and there are no signs Of cavern
about his person. The chorus, too is a sur
prise. 1t swels out gloriously. The girls
who help to make it up were what might be
described as almost anything" Nothing
more questionable than their garments
could be found on the outskirts of civilization.
Their poverty and not their will" Is re-
sponsibe. There are duets and dialogues.
figures and ciphers Leader grows exasper
ated, entreats, commands and threat.
ems. They sing and 60 through their
parts without noticing the absurdity of
the situation A slouchy, shambline man
leads out modest looking girl. Oacs ont.
and in imagination before an audience, he
braces up and becomes a most lordly crea-
ture. He is going to be a king in the opera
and already feels it in his bones Substantial
fairies waddle around as though the earth
was good thing to stand upon after all
Wait till you see them in diapbanous drapery
and you will doubt the previous evidence of
your eyes.
There Is no glamour, no splendid adjuncts,
no stage setting. 1t is opera in the raw,
wavering image Of what it will be in its per-
lection. An advertising agent hovers about.
His engagement for the season is not yet a
liked fact.
Rehearsals for the winter season do not be- |
gin until July, but the companies who have |
designs on summer resorts and Canada are |
It 1t already. GERTRUDE GARRISON